The death toll among Egyptians taking part in the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has risen to 73, the Egyptian health ministry announced on Friday.

State-owned MENA news agency quoted the head of Egypt's hajj medical commission, Ahmed El-Ansary, as saying that in the three most recent cases, an 86-year-old woman from Aswan governorate had died in Mecca,and a 63-year-old man from Gharbiya and a 62-year-old man from Beheira had died in Medina.

The three recent deaths suffered from cardiac arrest along with respiratory problems.

El-Ansary added that the Egyptian authorities were coordinating with their Saudi counterparts to issue a death certificate.

Earlier on Friday a 81-year-old man from Beheira governorate had died after suffering a cardiac arrest in Mecca.

Saudi authorities say more than two million Muslims participated in this year's hajj season.

The five-day pilgrimage started on Wednesday and concluded on Monday.

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